# Perdido Key beach mouse (*Peromyscus polionotus trissyllepsis*) The Perdido Key beach mouse is a tiny, cute mouse that lives in sandy areas near the beach. It has soft fur and loves to dig in the sand to find food and make its home. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Perdido Key beach mouse](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Peromyscus_polionotus_trissyllepsis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Peromyscus_polionotus_trissyllepsis.jpg) ## Appearance The Perdido Key beach mouse has pale, sandy-colored fur, with a white belly and white feet, perfectly camouflaging it against the white dunes. It is a tiny rodent with a relatively long, light-colored tail. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Rodentia - **Family:** Cricetidae - **Genus:** Peromyscus ## Interesting facts - Baby beach mice are born blind and helpless, needing their mom's care! - Their homes are complex burrows, sometimes with many tunnels and exits! - These mice live on one tiny stretch of beach, found nowhere else! - They are nocturnal, active mostly when the sun goes down! ## Special abilities - **Master of Disguise:** Perdido Key beach mouse has light, sandy fur, perfectly blending into white dunes to hide from hungry predators. - **Burrow Builder:** Perdido Key beach mouse can dig speedy burrows in the loose sand, creating safe homes and escape routes. - **Night Sight:** Perdido Key beach mouse has excellent night vision, helping them find food and avoid danger in the dark. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 7-9 cm - **Weight:** 0.01-0.025 kg - **Lifespan:** 1-2 years - **Speed:** 12 km/h - **Litter Size:** 2-7 - **Gestation:** 20-25 days ## Diet & Feeding These tiny foragers mostly eat seeds and fruits from dune plants, sometimes munching on insects! - **Primary Foods:** Sea oats seeds, Beach grass seeds, Dusty miller fruits, Small insects, Spiders - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great Horned Owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-horned-owl) (*Bubo virginianus*) — hunts Perdido Key beach mouse for food, especially at night. - **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — hunts Perdido Key beach mouse, a common food source in dune areas. - **Eats:** [Sea Oats](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sea-oats) (*Uniola paniculata*) — provides seeds and cover, vital for Perdido Key beach mouse survival. - **Eaten by:** Eastern Racer (*Coluber constrictor*) — hunts Perdido Key beach mouse in coastal habitats. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Burrowing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/burrowing): Burrowing animals dig tunnels and chambers in the ground, using these subterranean structures for shelter, hunting, or breeding. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low If you see a mouse in the wild, it's best to watch it from a distance and not touch it. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Perdido Key beach mouse? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Perdido Key beach mouse? 7-9 cm ### How much does Perdido Key beach mouse weigh? 0.01-0.025 kg ### How long does Perdido Key beach mouse live? 1-2 years ### How fast can Perdido Key beach mouse move? 12 km/h ### What does Perdido Key beach mouse eat? These tiny foragers mostly eat seeds and fruits from dune plants, sometimes munching on insects! ### Where is Perdido Key beach mouse usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Perdido Key beach mouse hunt? Foraging ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Perdido Key beach mouse: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/perdido-key-beach-mouse)